Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-04-10

sounds, according to some authorities, by
striking their pharyngeal teeth together,
while other writers think that they beat
their bodies against the sides OF vessels
TO rub off certain parasites that infest
them.
A vessel lying in the China Sea some
years ago had q most remarkable expert
ence. The sounds that arose about her
greatly alarmed the crew, and were de-
scribed by the Captain as resembling es-
Gaping steam, the Changing of bells, the
notes of an enormous harp, with others
difficult to describe, The concert lasted
for some hours, and was attrbted to a
school OF fishes that was seen in the vi
cinity.
The cuckoo gurnard has been known to
utter grunting sounds, and | have heard
our common gurnard grunt so loudly that
the note could be heard twenty feet away.
The herring and cOtters make a similar
sound, and the air bladder theory would
not be tenable In the latter.
That fishes utter sounds was known in
very early times, aud Aristotle and Action
both refer to the sound-uttering fishes OF
the Mediterranean. The Ceylonese tish-
ermen are familiar with fish found in
the Lake OF Colombo, which they call
"magoora," that makes an audible grunt
when disturbed; and PailegOiX, IN his
history of Slam, refers to brilliant fish.
resembling our founder. which the ma
tives call dogs tongue" that attaches
Itself to boats bottom ana gives out "A
variety of sounds. Considerable excite
ment was occasioned at Batticaloa, Cey-
Ion, a number OF years ago, by the report
that musical sounds were heard rising
from the sea in various places. Sir l..
Tennent visited the locality and interro-
gated several fishermen who had heard
the notes, and described them as Tesemb.
ling the faint sweet notes oil an Eollau
harp. According TO the men, they We're
only audible during the dry season, and
they had always known OF them and their
fathers before them. They said that it
was not fish that sang. but a she'll or
mOllusk, which they called in the Tamil
tongue the corie cOoleeroo cradoo or cry
ing shell, the name evidently being an
attempt to reproduce the sound. The
men soon pointed out some or the musI-
clans, which proved TO be the shells
known TO science as Litlorina lewis and
Centhium palue. Tennent engaged the
men TO take him to the spot, and one
moonlight night they rowed MIN to "A 10.
cality about 200 yards northeast OF the
jetty by the fort gaze, ana while the boat
rested in perfect silence, not IA breath of
wind blowing, he distinctly heard the
musical notes, "They came up from the
water" he says, ''like the gentle thrills
Of "A musical chord, or the faint vibrations
OF wineglass when its rim is rubbed by
a moistened finger. 1t was not one sus-
talned note, but a multitude OF tiny
sounds, each clear and distinct in ITSELF
the sweetest treble mingled with the low
est bass. On applying the ear TO the
WOOD work of the boat the vibration was
greatly Increased in volume. The sounds
varied considerably at different points as
we moved across the lake, as II The num-
Der or animals from which they proceeded
was greatest In particular spots, and oc-
casionally we rowed out or hearing Of
them altogether, until on returning to the
original locality the sounds were at once
renewed"
Such sounds have been recorded from
several localities IN India. A party was
once passing from the promontOry in sal
settle 10 Sewree, in the harbor OF Bombs
when they were astOnished TO near sounds
like the protracted booming OF u bell, the
notes OF an ds0lian harp, or "A pitch pipe,
or any long drawn musical note. They
AT first thought II music from the shore,
but IT was soon seen TO come from al
about, and the fishermen said 10 was
caused by fishes that were found there.
The occupants, Oy placing their ears upon
the rail- Of the boat, heard the sounds with
great distinctness. Similar sounds have
been reported from Caldera, Chiie, SUD
at The mouth OF Pasoagoula creek, Mis-
sissippi.
While the Information CONCERNING
sOund-prOducing mollusks ~ very men.
sfe' some Investigations barS been made.
DE- Grant cNpefimontCd uD0m lhe Iritg-